Let the meltdowns begin!

I guess it could be more that I keep putting things on her head, but we've experienced some great meltdowns lately! First with the curlers (which didn't really do much of anything)...

And then with the reindeer antlers. 

She's is just fine being a Doe and has no desire to be a reindeer...

Elf yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jewell Kalaiah

My bestie, Richelle, finally introduced the world to sweet Baby Jewell Kalaiah! She was born at 11:29 this morning. 7 lbs 12.5 oz. 20 3/4". Mom, Dad and baby are doing well! 

Congratulations! We love you! 

Kisses

I just noticed last week that every time Sophia comes over and gives me a kiss she says the same thing right after... "ti ti". Same inflection in her voice every time.

It wasn't until I asked her for a kiss the other day that I heard myself say "Thank you" in the very same inflection that she's been using. Now she thinks everytime there's a kiss it should be followed by a polite "Thank you". So of course we make her do it a million times.

Jared got to laughing about the day a boy kisses our little girl (on her wedding day for the first time of course) and how freaked out he'd be by the "ti ti" afterwards.

We keep trying to get it on video and we'll post it if it ever happens :)

angelina nothin!

The amazing Jenny took these at a football game a few weeks ago.

How beautiful is our daughter?!?!? :)

Angelina has nothing on these lips!

Thanks Jenny!

Kick Fulls

So with football season here, Sophia has been practicing her stunting skills with the cheerleaders I coach. She has been working on her kick full basket toss. Brittney is going to demonstrate here...

And now Sophias...

Isn't she AMAZING?!?!

It's finally fall!

The cold weather took it's time to come, but today was the first day of Fall here! Our favorite Pumpkin Patch up north, Young's Farm, closed down so Sophia and I ventured to a new one with Todd, Erin and Devin. It was in Glendale, actually pretty close to the Cardinals stadium. Not quite the same feel as an actual farm. The desert dust storms

made our eyes hurt and Todd's "boogers turn brown". Nice.

We were able to get a few photos in the faux patch. :)

I don't know why this one makes me laugh, but it made the $7 Admission worth it for me.

You know as I look back at these pictures, you would not guess that it's "cold" here what with us in our tank tops and all. But to be outside and not sweat is a great feeling. So yeah... it's cold.

Thanks for letting us tag along Finnin Family! We enjoyed our day outdoors with you!!!

First Year of LIfe

Here is a video we made to play at Sophia's party. It didn't work on the DVD player so here it is now...
Enjoy!

Sophia's First Birthday Party

We had about 45 friends and family come help us celebrate Sophia's first birthday. It was mad chaos, but it was so fun! Sophs did not disappoint with the pink cupcake!

(There is a link to more pictures to the left)

Alex and Danny

Jenny Spires did Alexandra and Danny's engagement photos. Click on her name to the left. AMAZING Jenny!!

(I cried watching the slideshow)

Happy First Birthday Sophia Layne!!

It's true. Our baby girl is a year old today!

What an amazing year it has been.

We love you Sophia and are so thankful for you!

You bring mom and dad sooo much joy!!

Trial run...

Mom and Dad had a small party for sweet Sophs. We wanted to see when she would do with the cake. Yea...no problem with that! Saturday's party should be fun!

Come on...Stand Up!!

Sophia is such a content and happy baby. She will play with whatever is in front of her forever. She's so content that she really has no desire to get a move on. Just this past week she has decided that it might be time to try to catch up with Emma. She is so close to standing on her own. I'm sure she'll be on the move and no time and I'll forget what it was like to be able to just sit and watch her. We're all trying to convince her to stand up here. I think Karie is having the most fun. No worries...she quickly reverts back to her "peg leg" at the end.

Congrats Allens!!

Jared and I went to Cali this weekend to one of his best friend, Tim's, wedding. They were kind enough to get married in Laguna! We left Sophia with Aunt Koo Koo, Uncle Steve and Emma. We had such a great time and it was a beautiful wedding! We've never seen Timbo happier!

Love you guys!!

The "Gross Brothers" ^
Mom and Dad Sans Sophs ^
Does and Allens... Ashley was such a beautiful and fun bride!

Don't tell Sophia...

Tomorrow our sweet Sophia Layne will be turning one whole year old!!

Last week, her aunts and I went to Build A Bear and put her "Sophia" song in a custom chip and put it in it's hand so everytime she pushes her bear's hand she'll hear us singing her song. We only had 10 seconds to record it so it's warp speed. Here she is kissing it's heart before putting it in...

She already loves the bear. :) Thanks for your help Allie and Karie!

You spin me right 'round baby!

Sophia got a hold of Daddy's cup and was so excited she spun round and round! She did four complete circles right before I caught this on camera. She does one on video so you can only imagine how funny it was to see her keep going! She is just so much fun! Just a few more weeks before her very first birthday!

Bouncin for Bella's Birthday!

Our friends Bri and John invited us to their daughter Bella's third birthday at a fun bouncy place! It was Sophia's first big birthday party!

She loved bouncing and had a great time with her friends Tyler and Oliver!!

Tyler wasn't all that stoked about the slide.
Tyler, Oliver and Sophia playing
Oliver and Sophia taking a stroll.

Dad and Sophia sliding!

What a big girl!

Super-pack!

We aren't quite sure when Emma is saying (we think "Super-pack"?) but whatever it is Sophia thinks it's the funniest thing she has EVER heard!

Oh and at the end, my dad says "Here it is Marce!" He is referring the urgent care place in Traverse City that they had to take me to nine years ago when both of my hands blew up to the size of basketballs...well not that big, but it was quite ridiculous! Richelle you may remember that it started in our summer English class. Never did figure out what caused it... freak.

Boys of Sophie's Summer

Sophia has had the opportunity to hang out with two of her fellow future class mates this summer. Here she is with Oliver in the bath. She was fine with it, but I'm not sure Oliver is ready for that next step!

(I'm not sure why this pic rotated. Only have a few minutes before nap is over so I'll try to figure it out later :))

Here she is with Tyler. He IS ready for that next step!

Love hanging out with you guys!!

This just makes me laugh...

Sophia's Song

When Emma was a baby we made up a song about her and sang it all the time. She would laugh and dance to it. It goes a little something like this:

"Emma Grace, Emma Grace, Emma Grace has a lovely face.

Emma Grace, Emma Grace, She's the cutest girl in the human race.

10 little fingers, 10 little toes, two blue eyes and one button nose.

Emma Grace, Emma Grace, Emma Grace has a lovely face!!"

We've been trying not to force one for Sophia, but it's finally here! It's goes:

"So-So-So-Sophia. So-So So-Sophia.

So so pretty, So so nice. She is full of sugar and spice.

So-So-So Sophia So-So-So Sophia. oooah! oooah!"

We got Emma to give you a little preview. She gets a Sophia and a so pretty in there, but she nails the ending!

The Kayak Story

Karie and I decided to get up before the kids one morning and go kayak on the lake. There are no wake hours before 11:00am so lake is sooo smooth and quiet and peaceful. We made our way into a quiet cove where we could see the bottom of the lake. We saw fish swimming, lillypads and a big turtle! We were so excited to see him so close up. He actually had freaky eyes and a long tail. Dad said he was a snapping turtle.

We made our way back to the house after about an hour. As pulled up to shore and got out I looked in my kayak and right next to where I had been sitting for the past hour was a frog!!!!! I said "Thank you Jesus for not letting me know that he was there because I would have tipped out and been swimming back to the house!"

Our quiet morning turned into one of squealing as Steve got him out...

There he is on the bottom right corner ^.

So just as Steve was letting the frog go a snake slithered by us!! Are you kidding me?! Sue, Karie and Marcie are all jumpning and screaming, but again Steve "Irwin" Cowden came to our rescue.
He got it! Needless to say our quiet morning was over,

kids were up, but it does make for a great story.

It also gives new meaning to Connie's cute plaque in the dining area...

Spider Lake

We miss Spider Lake!! We spent eight days up at Dad and Connies lakehouse in MI. It was so fun...boating, skiing, jetskiing, kayaking (be sure to look for that blog), pontoon cruises, paddle boating, ice cream, fudge... such wonderful memories. Can't wait until next year!

Sophia got to meet all of her Michigan cousins!

Right to left: Emma, Graham, Jonah, Ella, Noah and Sophia.

This is probably the only picture we have of her smiling in her lifejacket. She hated it!

Here she is not cooperating with our family self portrait.

Sophia, mama and Papa Roger.


Jared got some much needed R&R!

My very dear friend Lindsay and her boyfriend Michael came down to visit. It's crazy how we never miss a beat. It had been four years since we've seen each other! Way too long! Thanks for coming Linds!!